Academic Planning & Transfer Open Advising Day (TOAD)

Students who attend Transfer Open Advising Day (TOAD) will be prepared for enrollment and to attend Academic Advising, Registration and Orientation (AARO). During TOAD, students meet with their academic advisor to learn how transfer credits will be applied to their SMU degree. By registering for the program, a personalized Transfer Evaluation Report will be ready when the student arrives. In addition, students will be able to attend an academic information session about Lyle and have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the SMU campus.

Academic Planning

During advising appointments, the student’s advisor will guide them through the final leg of transition to Lyle, and assist with understanding the engineering subset requirements for the student’s desired major, if needed. 

To help prepare and engage in the advising process, we recommend that students develop a list of class ideas, questions and concerns before each meeting. They should make sure to inform their advisor about their academic progress, course selection and intellectual/career goals.

After their advising appointment, students need to remember that they:

  • Are responsible for their enrollment in classes
  • Need to enroll in the courses that were discussed with their advisor
  • Make schedule changes by the add/drop deadline (fifth class day of each semester)
  • Withdraw from courses by the deadline if necessary

Students may wish to meet with their advisor more than once a semester to discuss opportunities such as 4-year degree plans, courses and co-op, study abroad, etc.

Digital Resources

The Degree Progress Report (DPR) is found under the “Academic Progress” tile on my.smu.edu. It is updated by advisors and the Registrar’s Office when students enroll and receive a grade in a class, and will track the student’s progress toward their majors and minors at SMU.

Get DPR

This tool will help students identify courses that they need to take to complete SMU’s Liberal Arts common curriculum. If students entered SMU in Fall 2020 or after, they can use UC 2020. If students arrived at SMU after Fall 2016, but before Fall 2020, they can use UC 2016.

UC 2020

UC 2016

The SMU Catalog is the roadmap that outlines in detail everything that is expected of students, the course of study for majors and minors and University policies. Make sure to reference the catalog that is the same as your year of entry at SMU.

SMU Catalog

Students use this worksheet to plan their four years at SMU. This resource helps organize required classes and when to take them. The planner can be filled out with a student’s academic advisor but is not an official document.

4-Year Planner